Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

Hey, everyone! I’m excited to have a guest post on the blog today. Enjoy!

I’m happy to welcome Jason Feller as our guest today. Jason is an experienced journalist and writer who now blogs about couponing techniques and money-saving strategies for popular stores such as Macy’s on Dealspotr.com.

If you’ve ever tried to eat healthily, you may have noticed how expensive it can get. If you plan and strategize, though, you can absolutely maintain a high-quality, nutritious diet and also stick with your budget. Here are five strategies you can use to save some money while also eating well.

Tips for Eating Healthy on a Budget

One tried-and-true way to save money on all groceries is to buy packaged items in bulk. This strategy is something people often think of in terms of snacks and things like that, but it absolutely works for healthful food items as well. Packaged foods like pasta, quinoa and protein bars can be bought in bulk for great discounts. You can use this strategy at normal grocery stores, but to save even more, you may want to consider shopping at warehouse stores like Sam’s Club or Costco. To make sure you’re saving money, compare the cost per ounce of the larger package to the cost per ounce of the smaller package. It’s often possible to get a significantly lower cost per ounce when you’re buying larger packages.

When you visit the produce section, you’ll see a couple of different options. There are raw, whole fruits and vegetables as well as pre-cut, pre-packaged fruits and vegetables. While the packaged fruits and veggies — sliced pineapples, corn that’s already been shucked, etc. — are extremely convenient, they’re also extremely expensive. If you’re trying to keep your costs down, you absolutely must buy the raw, whole produce. It’s exponentially cheaper and it’s not all that hard to cut fruits down into the sizes you need. If you really don’t have the time to prepare them, focus on produce that doesn’t require much preparation. So rather than, say, pineapples, go for apples. Buying fruits and vegetables in this manner is one of the easiest ways to save money and keep your diet super healthy.

Instead of adding unhealthy sauces and dressings, consider using a mix of herbs and spices to enhance the food you’re making. Some fresh sage, oregano or basil can make such a huge difference in a dish that could be bland without some extras. Though buying fresh herbs can be pretty expensive, there’s a very easy solution in growing your own herbs. Most herbs don’t require a garden, nor do they even need to be grown outside, so you can absolutely grow herbs even if you live in an apartment. You can buy everything you need — soil, seeds and pots — at stores like Lowe’s or Home Depot for basically nothing. After you plant the seeds, set the pots on a windowsill and ensure they get the sun exposure and water they need. You’ll have all the fresh herbs you need in just a few weeks.

Snacks are basically the only type of food that are actually cheaper to buy healthily. Potato chips, Doritos, Cheetos, Fritos — they are all very expensive. Healthier snacks like raisins, sunflower seeds and popcorn you make on the stove are all incredibly cheap and offer lots of health benefits. Of course, some healthy snacks can be quite expensive as well. Things like pre-packaged banana chips can cost a pretty penny. If you have the time and the desire, you can make snacks like kale chips, banana chips and more on your own in the oven.

One other great way to save money on healthy foods is by making your own juice. You do have to have a blender for this, of course, but it can be a really good investment. When you look at the prices of healthy and yummy juice brands like Odwalla, Pom Wonderful and Naked Juice, it really doesn’t take that long to make up the cost of the blender. You absolutely don’t have to invest in those high-end blenders like Vitamix or Blendtec and spend $400. The less expensive options that can be found at stores like Macy’s work just as well as long as you cut the fruits and vegetables into smaller pieces than you normally would. This is also an excellent way to keep yourself from wasting any of the produce you weren’t going to use.

We get such great deals at our farmer’s market most of the growing season. The better that we get to know the growers the better the deals and products seem be – it’s a great way to save and get the freshest foods to help you stay on a healthy eating track!Jaime Nicole recently posted…Give the Perfect Gift For a New Father with Havana Honeys Cigars

I agree sometimes buying in bulk is a good money saver! I also buy in season fruits and veggies and we grow a decent sized garden to avoid crazy grocery bills!Jessica Harlow recently posted…Biting?? What’s this all about? Part 4

I’ve wanted to get a vitamix blender, but oh man they cost more than my phone! But I agree with you, eating healthy doesn’t have to break the bank. You can find ways!Heather recently posted…Changing Leave On Wordless Wednesday

I agree with buying fresh produce. If you shop with what is in season, you are always able to find a deal. And sometimes you can score the prepped stuff on clearance. If you eat it that day, it is still good.Lisa recently posted…P&G Childrenâs Safe Drinking Water Program

These are all such great ideas. What gets me though is the price of meat and things. It’s gotten outrageous to even buy hamburger and if you’re like me and try to avoid red meat it can really get pricey!Rena McDaniel recently posted…MONTPELIER TOMORROW — A BOOK REVIEW & A GIVEAWAY!!!

These are great ideas. It’s so important to choose healthier options, even when you don’t have a lot of money to play around with. It’s a great skill to teach your kids too!Megan Elford recently posted…Drop & Run Link Up #4

I do agree that buying the precut fruits and veggies is definitely more expensive. Though, I do like to buy them as an indulgence every once in awhile.Stephanie of The TipToe Fairy recently posted…Teaching vs Tech – What Matters More?

Eating healthy is definitely not cheap! These are some great tips, and I fully agree with the blender idea. I have a ninja that I paid $35 at Walmart for that really helps me a lot.Stephanie recently posted…Do You Need a Little Homework Help? #SchoolTools

I love my Ninja blender! I had been pining for a Vitamix, but I bought the Ninja because it was so much cheaper. I’m very impressed with the Ninja. It crushes ice perfectly. I haven’t found anything that blender can’t tackle.

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Hi! I'm Alli - wife of one, mom of 5 and nana of 5. I'm a southern cook who loves to share recipes, entertain family and friends and travel to the Caribbean at least once a year. Becoming a beach bum is high on my to-do list!

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